An area larger than Germany and France together is flooded. 22 cities and innumerable small towns across Queensland are inundated. Thousands have been evacuated to rescue centres, thousands have lost everything – the cost to the Australian economy has already been estimated to exceed $6 billion.
Yet where are the offers of help from the USA and Britain? There are none. No rescue helicopters, no food drops, no financial support. Nothing, nada, zilch; just a deafening silence. Special relationships? Don’t make me laugh.
Where are the generous aid packages from Pakistan, India, Indonesia, China? There are none; not a brass razoo.
Australia will as always quietly get on with the job, on its own.
Boadicea's Chariot 
What?
Foreign aid; Australia is not a third world country, surely? 😉
Well, to hear some talk about us, you’d think it was. But it’s a great catastrophe, and $6bn isn’t exactly small change.
Australia has contributed generously to many overseas disasters. Reciprocity would have been nice.
Happy New Year, Bearsy, and good luck! 🙂
We have too, Bearsy, but we don’t get much back either. 😦
Thanks, Bearsy! x
But seriously, it sounds awful.
I was reading about it earlier on the DT.
Thanks Bilby – that’s a great video to accompany John. 🙂
More piccies here, and here, and here and here.
I’ve just had a look at the pictures, Bearsy. Quite unbelievable.
You and Boadicea are presumably OK?
Really bad. I don’t remember anything on this scale in the 25 years I was in Oz.
I don’t think that one could call China a Third World country either, yet the world rushes to provide help when they have natural disasters.
The fact that this has been an on-going problem here for several weeks and has only just, seemingly, hit the headlines elsewhere is, frankly, a little sad.
What makes it worse, in my opinion, is that many of those who are affected could not get Insurance against flooding and are, thus, left to pick up the personal losses themselves.
Oh, Boadicea, the same thing has happened here.
The flooding has in previous years been dreadful; a combination of too much rain, too little spent on flood defences and building on flood plains.
Being anywhere near a river makes a house uninsurable. Houses on the Thames, which is by far the most regulated river in England, which haven’t flooded for a couple of hundred years, did indeed flood.
Yorkshire and many areas of the UK had a dreadful time.
Happy New Year EVERYONE!… and especially those affected by flood, famine, disease, war, ill health, unhappiness ….
Blimey.
It’s the New Year; we have fireworks here!
BANG!!!!!
Yes, we are fine. Some parts of Brisbane itself have flooded – we had to take an alternative road the other day because the road was under a fast flowing stream, but apart from a very, very soggy garden this area is OK.
The problem here, of course, is the huge geographical area that’s affected. I was delighted to hear Australia’s PM say that she wouldn’t be visiting some areas since every single flight must be used to carry urgent supplies.
As for Insurance companies – *!*!*
It is a huge area, Boadicea and I suppose the reverse was true in the UK. More people, stock and houses but a relatively small area, comparatively speaking.
I hope no loss of life, but dreadful for those involved.
Multi-ethnic Brisbane, New Year’s Eve –
South Bank
Brilliant, Bearsy, thank you! 🙂
I must go to bed, I’m amazed I am still awake.
Night to you both.
Happy New Year – have a good night!
Great photos, Bearsy. Night all. 🙂 Zzzzzzzzzzzz
Yes, it is a shame that no one so far has even offered Australia any help. There was also a major flood in Orange County, California recently which caused quite a bit of damage.
No civilised westernised country ever receives aid from anyone else. All natural disasters have to be cataclysmic before the international press corps arrives.
I don’t think you are different from any other country in that, would you actually want to be offered foreign aid from the likes of China?
Surely not?
Your flood insurance is no different from anyone else’s either. You can never get it carried in a general policy these days and they won’t insure anywhere that actually is at risk of flooding. it is a separate policy and usually quite expensive as is earthquake cover in places like this. You fail to carry it at your peril.
I once lived in a place in Wales that flooded at least 4/5 times a year on the Towy, 15″ deep in three rooms of the house, after that it broached the railway lines, one gets used to it and takes avoiding action and carefully does not own furniture that one cannot salvage etc etc, loose rugs, not fitted carpet. People do make too much of it all. Considering I was surrounded by a beautiful herd of charolais it was e coeli ran wild, bit of bleach soon fixes it.
I stayed there because it was lyrically beautiful and away from the madding crowd, my choice.
I do have to admit, since then I have always bought on a hill! Or at least a good slope!!!
What I find most worrisome are people that vacate and leave animals trapped. I was always opening field gates to let animals out of the bottom meadows etc, better they mooch about than drown, they are all labelled anyway. I presume the area in Queensland was mainly arable, cotton, corn etc?
I was interested at the lack of density of humanity, 200,000 people affected in an area the size of Germany and France combined, presumably mainly farming, desert and the odd small town?
Good comment Christina. Happy New Year.
Excuse me Christina – but there were huge appeals here for Catrina, and people gave generously. Furthermore, we have sent fire-fighters to the US on quite a few occasions to help out.
We are small in population and large in land. I’m quite sure that the offer of the use of helicopters and other such items from those countries with better resources would be most welcome – and hardly demeaning.
… Queensland’s population is 4.5 million, add the odd few million head of cattle … many mines, now flooded … but no matter, you use the Telegraph’s figure of 200,000 if it makes you happy, Christina.
You are right, Boadicea. After Katrina struck so much aide was sent to Louisiana that it was simply overwhelming. But then, this is the USA and it is in more and more places starting to resemble a third world country…
I have just made a donation to the Australian Red Cross.
Thanks, Christopher! 😀
Many Thanks Christopher.
We are only some 22/23 million people – and our government digs deeply in our pockets to send ‘aid’ to many countries when catastrophes occur. For example it pledged $10 million for Katrina relief, and offered the services of disaster relief experts.
http://eccentricstar.typepad.com/international_katrina_aid/countries_a_c/index.html
The fact that it is well known that Insurance companies all around the world refuse to provide cover for flooding, makes it even less palatable that the World has ignored the scale of the disaster here for so long.
Both SKY and CNN (the international version) have provided coverage since the floods began, I’ve been well aware of the rainfall and the devastation.
I will admit that only the last couple of days or so have I actually seen footage of the people and their flooded properties.
Has the Oz government actually asked for help?
Talking about Katrina reminded me of this-
The South African government has responded to appeals for assistance for the people of New Orleans after the recent hurricane.
We are sending a jumbo jet full of volunteers from Soweto to help with the looting!
😉
No, Soutie, as far as I know we haven’t asked. But that is neither here nor there; friends do not wait to be asked, they get stuck in.
Love the Katrina story! 🙂
What a cracking story Soutie!
Agreed.
Did I read somewhere that Uncle Sam has 3 carriers keeping an eye on those idiots in Pyong whatsitsplace?
If so, diverting one of those with its support facilities would come in really handy and keep the sailors busy.
Yes, they could sail straight up the Fitzroy River … 😉
Sorry to hear of the flooding. In 2003 I visited Bundaberg. The whole area was suffering from severe water shortages. I stayed with friends out of town. Their water tanks and reservoirs were virtually empty. I felt guilty even having a glass of water to drink. So I drank rum instead. 😉 My two nephews are spending the weekend in Noosa. Lovely place. Any idea how that town is getting on?
Bearsy I think you have a fair point. And I don’t understand why there is seemingly indifference to the widescale flooding. Is it because no one is perceived to be in danger? Is there no world wide organisation that links countries together in supporting countries hit by disasters. Do people not like Australians? Are Aussies seen as Crocodile Dundee types? Its an interesting post.
Thanks PG. Several people have died (though mainly as a result of their own foolishness), and much livestock. Not sure about Noosa, Sipu, but I would guess it’s OK from the geography.
Well, Australia’s all growed up now with one of the world’s strongest economies and currencies. I agree with PG that aid is usually sent to countries where the populations are in mortal danger – which I hope is not the case here.
Janus – read my answers to Christina. The Australian Government sends aid and help to any country that is hit by a natural disaster – regardless of whether they are ‘all growed up’. My word, we’d even send it to Denmark if needed….
So, Janus, why did the USA accept lots and lots of aid for Catrina, including $10m from us?
Boa, no idea, sorry! 🙂
Be fair, Bearsy. The Queen did send her sincere sympathies.
In seriousness, you make some thought-provoking points in your post. It is now headline news in the UK but that has taken a while to happen. You are also quite right that friends should not have to ask for help before it is offered.
Just made a donation to the Queensland Premier’s disaster relief appeal since we have kith and kin there.
http://www.qld.gov.au/floods/
On Noosa, said kith and kin, Mrs M’s brother, lives in the Lake MacDonald area on the Sunshine Coast. He has not been telling us about any local flooding problems in his e-mails so that area is presumably OK at the moment.
B and B, I truly sympathise.
The reason you never get foreign aid is that you don’t have tinpot dictators running your country who can syphon the money off to buy guns from the UK, France, Israel and of course the US. These guns will then be used to kill off any dissenters and make the dictator rich.
Thought you knew that.
Looks bad hope you and yours are safe.
In reality, I think most people struggle to believe that Australia, much of which is desert, could ever be susceptible to flooding. On a more cynical note, consider the colour of the people. You guys are presumed to actually have a bit of gumption, which is more than can be said for the majority of inhabitants of ‘Nyorlins’ or Haiti.
I think Sipu has nailed it, Queenslanders are white, most of the Katrina victims were black. Most of the whites removed themselves before it hit. Frankly most Americans were highly embarrassed by the country receiving aid.
Just had a good look at the physical geography of Queensland, as usual the places that seem to have taken the hammering are in flood plains but they seem on the whole to be broad so the resulting floods are widespread but shallow. I can find no pictures of seriously dangerous deep fast water, houses floating out to sea etc, everywhere looks terribly flat. I shall be interested to hear how many crops survive, because some will if it retreats reasonable quickly. No excuse for leaving stock to die, anyone who does deserves to go bankrupt. Would I be right assuming that the climate here allows continual growth of a lot of crops and that there is active ‘winter’ farming? I was under the impression that it is all semi-tropicals on the agricultural coastal plain?
The last two comments belong in the 18th Century.
About time you took a vacation in Haiti or Cote d’Ivoire, or perhaps Somalia and Sudan, all lovely well regulated locations!
One notes you manage to live in one of the whitest spots left in Europe!
Just been looking at the Colombian floods, 300 dead so far from landslides so far, a real mess.
Haven’t noticed they are asking for handouts. Mind you I rather think Colombians are used to death and destruction on the grand scale.
The BBC has some good footage.
Not asking for hand-outs, Christina, just a bit of help. I think I will write to my PM and tell her not to send any fire fighters and other personnel (at my expense) next time the US has a problem with out-of-control fires…
I don’t think the loan of helicopters is foreign aid really. Such specifics would probably be forthcoming after a quiet word expressing need.
PS, busy being interrupted here!
I’m quite sure the USA asked you for help with firemen, its is such a specific need.
These kind of things are generally passed through the diplomatic channels, if Wikileaks can be dissuaded from broadcasting them to all and sundry!!!
The Tropic of Capricorn passes just south of Rockhampton. So all of Queensland to the north of Rockhampton is actually in the tropics, and the third (roughly) of Queensland which is below (south of) Rockhampton is usually described as “sub-tropical”, although strictly speaking it’s “temperate”.
Janus: no worries, some on this site rather enjoy backing a loser.
CO, “One notes you manage to live in one of the whitest spots left in Europe”. Et tu, Bruta!
Bo and Bearsy, you will be interested to know that this news now tops the American news broadcasts, lead story. There have been no suggestions of help being offered or requested.
There still have been no pictures of anything truly horrendous, just huge acreages of flooded places with about 6″-18″ muddy somewhat passive water. And that Rockhampton is under siege expecting cresting of the Fitzroy within the next 24 hrs.